Author: Katie Beaulieu

The New Year started the busy time for finding a marketing internship. I was fortunate enough to make it through several phone screens and had final interviews with some great companies during January: L’Oreal, Nestle, Kellogg’s, and Amazon to name a few. Part of the fun of finding the right internship match is getting to travel to visit the headquarters of amazing companies. L’Oreal hosted an entire weekend, Taste of L’Oreal, in New York City at the Westin in Times Square.

We met the CMO of the company, heard a presentation from the North American President, and participated in a day-long case competition for a L’Oreal product in either the Luxury, Consumer, or Professional Product Division.

It was a phenomenal experience and really let candidates get a feel for the company, and its culture, and meet other MBA students from around the country (I still keep in touch with three of my case competition team members!). And we got a lot of goodies just for visiting!

Nestle hosted 60 candidates at their Solon, OH, office and treated us to a wine tasting led by their head chef, and a networking event with top executives. We also got dinner at the best restaurants in town, since everyone who works at Nestle (and planned our visit) is a foodie!

Kellogg’s hosted a group of Fisher and Ross students for a Day at K at their Battle Creek, MI headquarters. After a harrowing drive through a snowstorm, we had a great day kicked off by a presentation from Kellogg’s CMO, a tour of Kellogg’s vault, and meeting with the company’s ad agency Leo Burnett.

I also got to experience Seattle for the first time during my Amazon interview. Amazon hosted candidates in the best part of town, just a quarter mile from Pike’s Market, and I spent the morning checking out the market and visiting the original Starbucks!

Amazon’s headquarters are very low-key, and you could drive right through the company’s campus and not realize you were at Amazon! They arranged a lunch with current Product Managers and then held interviews for 3 hours. It was intense. One constant across all the companies was the friendliness of the people and focus on employee development and culture fit. We have some amazing people and organizations recruiting at Fisher and I know wherever I end up, I am going to have a great experience this summer!

This December I was a part of Marketing Hop, organized by Fisher’s student organization, Association for Marketing Professionals (AMP). Marketing Hop is an annual three day, multi-state trip during Winter Break that arranges for students to visit ad agencies, meet with marketing teams of major corporations and get a feel for a day in the life of a marketer.

After a 5:45am departure time the morning after our last final, we

said adieu to Columbus, and headed north on a chartered bus. Our first stop on the tour was Ford’s North American headquarters in Detroit , MI. We met with four members of Ford’s branding team, who walked us through several case studies including their successful use of content marketing with the Fiesta. After a photo-opp in the lobby, we headed across the street to one of Ford’s main ad agencies, Team Detroit, who presented the creative process and gave a tour of their jean-clad creative workspace. Potbelly sandwiches were awaiting us when we climbed back into the bus, and we happily settled in for the 5 hour drive to Chicago.

We arrived in Chicago to a party in our honor – an alumni event at Edelman on the 60th floor of a downtown hi-rise. We enjoyed mixing with 30 alumni, including Edelman’s President. We returned the next morning for a panel discussion with Edelman managers on communications strategy before heading to Hillshire Farms and wrapping up the visit with a trip to Ogilvy’s Chicago office.

The Hop wasn’t all business – we also had an amazing 5-course meal at the super-foodie Perennial Virant and show-cased our skills at a karaoke bar.

The trip was a great way to see Marketing in action – and an even better chance to make some lasting friendships with classmates. I will definitely be going on Marketing Hop 2014!

Fisher’s campus gives you little reason to leave, but venturing outside Ohio State University’s community reminds you that Columbus is a vibrant and growing city that offers plenty of attractions and activities to keep you busy. I have gotten to know the city of Columbus very well while training for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon, which will be held in downtown Columbus on Sunday, October 20th.

My training runs have taken me down the Olentangy River Trail, a 13.75 mile bike path that follows the Olentangy River and runs right through Ohio State’s campus and into downtown Columbus. The marathon itself will run down Broad Street, which is lined with the Art Museum and Franklin Park Conservatory.

After passing the Governor’s Mansion – and The Ohio State President’s house! – runners will go through German Village and up High Street towards Ohio State’s campus and a quick tour through the Stadium at Mile 16.

The race continues through Grandview, with its picturesque boutiques and shops, then wraps up through Victorian Village’s mansion lined Neil Avenue and Goodale Park to end in front of the Blue Jackets’ stadium in Nationwide Arena. And the best part: all runners are supporting the Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The marathon has been a great way to learn more about my city and help me feel connected to the broader Columbus community. I cannot wait to participate again next year. Until then, you can find me on the trail! Happy running!